"Nintendo UK is pleased to confirm that further stock of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U is now available from retailers including GAME, Amazon.co.uk and Shopto.net," a Nintendo spokesperson said in a statement.

"Both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of the game continue to be available from the Nintendo eShop."

UPDATE 1: Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate's Wii U version will be updated in a new patch due on 16th April, Nintendo Europe has announced.

The update adds the ability for off-TV play. Online multiplayer with US players will also be unlocked then, too.

ORIGINAL STORY: Nintendo's European boss has apologised for the ongoing shortage of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate stock in the UK.

Both Wii U and 3DS versions of the game have been hard to find on shop shelves, while some online retailers' supply has also run dry.

Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata has blamed the problem on "high demand".

"I'd like to apologise for the current stock shortage due to high demand of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate at retail," Shibata wrote on the official Nintendo UK Twitter account. "New MH3U stock will hopefully be available in shops next week for Wii U and mid-April for Nintendo 3DS."

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate debuted in sixth place on the UK chart two weeks ago, the highest placing of any Nintendo-distributed title in some time. But this week's chart update saw the game plummet to 39th.

It's unclear exactly how many copies the game has sold, and therefore how adequate the initial shipments of stock were.

"Both versions of #MH3U are also available on Nintendo eShop," Shibata continued, promoting the game's more expensive digital option. "Again, I sincerely apologise for causing any inconvenience."